Alex Lingor, 17, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges in February, was granted a furlough by Second Circuit Court Judge Bradley Zell last week, according to friends and family of Cisse. A message saying the furlough was granted for "a few hours" on graduation day from a state advocate to a family member of Cisse, who was killed in the 2017 crash for which Lingor was charged, was shown to the Argus Leader.

More than a dozen people gathered Monday afternoon in front of the Minnehaha County Administration building downtown to walk along Minnesota Avenue carrying signs that said things like, "Justice for KC" and "Wrong time for celebration."

"It's not right," said Cisse family friend Andre Jordan, who coordinated the demonstration. "(Kareem's mom) is still grieving. It's like a spit in her face."

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

Jordan said he plans to walk up and down Minnesota Avenue every day until the school district's graduation day, Sunday, June 3. All of the public schools' graduation ceremonies will be held that day, at different times, in the Sioux Falls Arena.

"The district is aware of the concern and continues to look into the matter," said Sioux Falls School District's DeeAnn Konrad in an email Monday afternoon.

The district provides two full-time teachers and one educational assistant at JDC, according to JDC's website. Students attend class from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year and can attend remedial classes during the summer.

Attorneys for Lingor said they couldn't comment on a pending case.

Jordan Randle was a student at Roosevelt when the crash happened. She knew Cisse, who attended Washington High School, through her brother.

"I think it's crazy," she said of the furlough. "If he (Lingor) goes to graduation, I'd be worried."

CLOSE

About 100 friends and family of Kareem Cisse, a 15-year-old crash victim, gathered around the tree that was struck by the car he was in. Cisse died in a central Sioux Falls crash Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Wochit

Lingor pleaded guilty in February to manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Lingor was charged in February 2017 to more than 15 charges after the truck he was driving forced a sedan off the road during a chase spurred by a drug rip reached speeds of over 80 mph. The truck hit the sedan at least once, crashing it into a tree.

A passenger in the sedan, Cisse, died in the crash. Cisse was in the vehicle with two others when they agreed to meet up with Lingor to buy about $25 worth of marijuana. The car in which Cisse was a passenger took off without paying, and Lingor chased them. Lingor was 16 at the time of the crash. He was tried as an adult, and was lodged at the Juvenile Detention Center.